Family Pays Your Generosity Forward

From the Winter 2021 Local Harvest Newsletter.
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Samantha and her husband are both pediatric nurses and were working at a local children’s hospital. But at the beginning of the pandemic, Samantha was laid off and her husband’s hours were cut in half. They began having trouble making their mortgage payments and fell behind on their bills.

“Things definitely got really tight,” Samantha says.

That’s why she’s been so grateful to be able to pick up food from the food pantry at Kansas City Kansas Community College when she needs groceries for her family.

Making sure her kids have healthy food is Samantha’s top priority. While Annabelle, 8, doesn’t have any food restrictions, Lincoln, 1, has severe food allergies.

“Any little mess-up [with Lincoln’s diet] is disastrous,” Samantha explains.

Food Allergy Research & Education, which advocates for people with allergies, reports millions of Americans who are food insecure face limits on what they can eat.

The food pantry has been so accommodating of Lincoln’s special dietary needs that it’s a huge weight off Samantha’s shoulders. If she ends up with an item Lincoln is allergic to, she can bring it back in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables that Lincoln can tolerate.

“Without Harvesters, [we] would have been eating rice and beans every day,” she says, thanking generous donors like you.

Samantha and her husband are both pediatric nurses and were working at a local children’s hospital. But at the beginning of the pandemic, Samantha was laid off and her husband’s hours were cut in half. They began having trouble making their mortgage payments and fell behind on their bills.

“Things definitely got really tight,” Samantha says.

That’s why she’s been so grateful to be able to pick up food from the food pantry at Kansas City Kansas Community College when she needs groceries for her family.

Making sure her kids have healthy food is Samantha’s top priority. While Annabelle, 8, doesn’t have any food restrictions, Lincoln, 1, has severe food allergies.

“Any little mess-up [with Lincoln’s diet] is disastrous,” Samantha explains.

Food Allergy Research & Education, which advocates for people with allergies, reports millions of Americans who are food insecure face limits on what they can eat.

The food pantry has been so accommodating of Lincoln’s special dietary needs that it’s a huge weight off Samantha’s shoulders. If she ends up with an item Lincoln is allergic to, she can bring it back in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables that Lincoln can tolerate.

“Without Harvesters, [we] would have been eating rice and beans every day,” she says, thanking generous donors like you.

Samantha and Annabelle are so thankful that they’ve started paying your generosity forward by giving their time distributing food through Harvesters’ partner agencies. You, Samantha and Annabelle are all working together to strengthen our community! Because you give, families like Samantha’s can have the nutritious food they need. Thank you! Please consider giving here.